EU funding for business 2024-2027: opportunities and where to look

In the 2021–2027 EU investment period, Lithuanian businesses can access two main forms of support: non-repayable grants (most often for digitalisation, innovation, exports and the green transition) and financial instruments — soft loans and guarantees administered through INVEGA. Open calls are gathered in one place at esinvesticijos.lt, and you can see the current opportunities on our funding page. What follows is a practical overview without the bureaucratic jargon: which measures are most realistic for small and medium-sized businesses, who administers them, and where to start.

The simple rule: a grant covers part of your project value and does not need to be repaid; a financial instrument gives you cheaper money that you still have to pay back. For many SMEs the two can be combined.

The 2021–2027 EU investment period: what it means for business

Every seven years the EU agrees on a multiannual financial framework. The current period is 2021–2027, and the money reaches Lithuania through several funds (ERDF, the European Social Fund+, the Cohesion Fund) and through the national Recovery and Resilience Facility ("Next Generation Lithuania"). Three things matter most for business:

• Money is released in stages. Calls for applications open and close throughout the year, so you need to monitor them rather than wait for one big launch.
• Co-financing is almost always required. A grant covers part (e.g. 30–70%) of eligible costs; your company funds the rest.
• Funds must be spent by around 2029. In practice there will still be calls in 2026–2027, but the most attractive measures may close earlier once their budget is used up.

Disclaimer: all percentages, amounts and deadlines in this article are illustrative (2026) and change frequently. Before planning a project, always verify the specific call's terms on esinvesticijos.lt and on the Innovation Agency and INVEGA websites.

Types of support: grants vs. financial instruments

Non-repayable grants

Think of these as a "gift with strings attached": you receive part of your project value if you meet the targets (deploy a system, create a product, hit export indicators). Typical features:

• Intensity (how much support covers) depends on company size and region — usually higher for small than for medium-sized firms.
• Competitive scoring. Many measures are scored, so a clear, well-justified application decides whether you get funded.
• Up-front funding is often limited — you pay many costs yourself and the support is reimbursed against submitted invoices.

Financial instruments (loans and guarantees)

When no grant exists or your project doesn't fit one, INVEGA-administered instruments remain:

• Soft loans — lower interest than the market, longer terms, more flexible repayment schedules.
• Guarantees — INVEGA guarantees part of a bank loan, so the bank lends more confidently to a company without enough collateral.
• Export credit guarantees and venture capital instruments — for more mature or growing businesses.

The advantage of financial instruments is that they are available almost continuously, without "call windows", and suit working capital or investments that grants don't cover.

Digitalisation and innovation measures

Most SMEs are most interested in measures funding digital transformation — because this is where money most often turns into real efficiency. Typically funded items:

• E-commerce solutions — online stores, integrations with accounting, inventory and couriers.
• Process automation — connecting systems, digitising workflows, document management.
• Artificial intelligence solutions — AI-based tools in manufacturing, customer service and data analysis.
• Digital maturity audits and consulting — some measures first fund an assessment of your digital level and a roadmap.

For example, the "Encourage companies to digitalise" measure was designed to cover part of the implementation cost when a company buys and deploys digital solutions. Such measures reappear in various forms, so if you plan a larger automation or e-commerce project, it's worth checking whether a call is open at the time.

A short example (illustrative)

Suppose a company plans a €6,000 process automation project (connecting CRM, invoicing and order flows). If a measure covers, say, 50% of eligible costs:

• Grant: ~€3,000
• Own contribution: ~€3,000

More importantly — if such a solution saves 6–8 working hours a week, it often pays back within a few months even without funding, and the grant simply speeds up the payback. (Figures are illustrative; real terms depend on the specific call.)

Key institutions: who administers what

To avoid getting lost, it helps to know who is responsible for what:

1. Innovation Agency — the main administrator of SME innovation, export, digitalisation and startup measures. Most "business growth" grants are here.
2. INVEGA — financial instruments: loans, guarantees, venture capital. Right when you need cheaper financing rather than a non-repayable grant.
3. APVA (Environmental Project Management Agency) — green, energy efficiency and environmental investments. Relevant if you install solar, heat pumps or reduce emissions.
4. Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) and ministries — administration of larger or specific programmes.

For specific calls, watch the official esinvesticijos.lt portal — it gathers all 2021–2027 calls with eligibility conditions and deadlines, and our funding page highlights the most relevant ones.

Where to look for current calls

A practical monitoring plan:

• esinvesticijos.lt — the main source. Filter by sector, company size and measure type.
• Innovation Agency newsletter — notifications about opening calls.
• Business associations and ministry news — often announce new measures before the official launch.

Tip: the most relevant measures have an application "window" (e.g. 4–8 weeks). If you spot a suitable call, it's usually too late to start planning a project from scratch — so it's worth having your idea and budget ready in advance.

Eligibility criteria and common application mistakes

Typical eligibility requirements:

• Company size (very often SMEs only: up to 250 employees, with turnover thresholds).
• Activity sector — some activities (e.g. primary agricultural production, financial services) may be ineligible.
• Operating history — often a company must have operated for at least 1 year.
• De minimis ceiling — state aid summed over several years cannot exceed the set limit.

The most common mistakes that get applications rejected or lose points:

1. Poorly justified need and benefit — the evaluator must understand why the project matters and what it changes.
2. Confusing eligible and ineligible costs — not everything you plan to buy is fundable.
3. Over-optimistic indicators — promised results you can't later substantiate become a problem at reporting.
4. Delays and incomplete documents — applications are submitted through an information system, and a missing annex can cost you funding.
5. Starting the project before the contract — start work too early and the costs may become ineligible.

Where to start: assess whether your project fits

A simple starting plan:

1. Define the project clearly. What exactly will you deploy (an online store, automation, an AI solution), what it costs and what benefit it delivers.
2. Check open calls on esinvesticijos.lt and the Innovation Agency website.
3. Assess eligibility — company size, sector, de minimis balance, ability to co-finance.
4. Prepare the budget and justification in advance so you make the call window.
5. If no grant exists — consider INVEGA instruments as an alternative.

Important: even if you don't get support, a good automation or digitalisation project often pays for itself. Funding is an accelerator, not a precondition.

Planning a digitalisation or automation project and want to know whether it qualifies for EU funding? Visit our funding page, where we collect the current opportunities, or book a consultation — we'll help you define the project clearly, assess eligibility and prepare a strong justification, so the search for funding becomes a clear plan rather than a lottery.